Let's hope that the American press would at least mention this claim when reporting the story; it is further proof that what is referred to as the 'Sunni insurgency' is increasingly becoming Al-Qaeda's war against the Americans and the Shi'as in Iraq.

Military officials did not say what type of helicopter it was or how it crashed. But Iraqi police and an insurgent group that asserted responsibility for the crash identified the craft as an Apache and said it had been shot down by a shoulder-fired antiaircraft missile.

“We are saying to the enemies of God that the airspace of the Islamic state of Iraq is prohibited for you, just like its land,” the Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni insurgent group, said in a statement posted on its Web site. “God opened for the soldiers of the Islamic State of Iraq new ways to confront your aircrafts.”

At least the WaPo story mentioned the ‘Islamic State of Iraq,’ but neither it nor the NYT piece made mention of that spooky yet related word: Al-Qaeda. Isn’t it a bit misleading to say that the Islamic State of Iraq is just another ‘Sunni insurgent group’? Isn’t the fact that it is a front for Al-Qaeda relevant to the war on terror?

The editors of those two papers certainly seem to think that the Al-Qaeda affiliation is not relevant to the story that their readers get to see, and hence, not relevant to the debate in the United States over Iraq.

There is something very troubling about that.

I wonder how they are going to cover what’s transpired in today’s news, namely Al-Qaeda revealing its new military offensive in Iraq under the name ‘The Dignity Plan’.

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State of Iraq, announced the plan in an audio message posted on several jihadist websites today (I will write about it soon). Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, Zarqawi’s successor as head of Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, had pledged allegiance to al-Baghdadi in early November 2006.

As part of Al-Qaeda's new ‘Dignity’ offensive, the Islamic State of Iraq has issued press releases today claiming credit for the bombings in Kirkuk (eight bombings), and the fighting in the city of Mosul (a curfew was declared), and in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces.

How will the media dodge the Al-Qaeda affiliation now?

If it were up to me, I’d think that the point I made in my Turnaround in Baghdad column a couple of weeks ago is very relevant: battling the insurgency now essentially means battling Al Qaeda.

UPDATE, Sunday, February 4, 2007:

Both Sunday print editions of the New York Times and the Washington Postmake not mention of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi/Islamic State of Iraq/Al-Qaeda.

The Iraq-related stories they carry today describe the violence in Kirkuk, Baghdad and Mosul, but make no mention of Al-Qaeda’s press releases claiming responsibility for that violence.

It’s astounding, and I can’t find any possible rationale behind these omissions. Is there a media blackout that we’re unaware of?

Yesterday’s Associated Press story (Byline: Steven R. Hurst) confuses Abu Omar al-Baghdadi with Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdadi (whose name is rendered in the AP story as Abu Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdadi), the head of the now-defunct Shura Council of the Mujaheddin; I think that Abu Omar and ‘Abdullah Rashid are two different persons:

An Iraqi militant group tied to al-Qaida in Iraq announced, meanwhile, it had launched its own new strategy to counter the coming U.S.-Iraqi crackdown.

In an audiotape posted on a Web site commonly used by the insurgents, a voice purported to be that of Abu Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdadi, also known as Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, said the group would "widen the circle of battles" beyond Baghdad to all of Iraq. Al-Baghdadi heads The Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organization of insurgent groups in Iraq.

4 Comments:

"The US media has been using the generic term 'insurgent' to describe the militants even when groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq are claiming credit for specific attacks. This practice has got to end, and the American audience needs to be told that America's soldiers are actually fighting Al-Qaeda when engaging 'insurgents' in Iraq."

That would not only require research and intellectual exercise for the talking heads of America's Worst Generation, but it also does not neatly fit the template of "Bush's Fault!! Dems in 08!" Plus Nancy Pelosi et al say that Iraq is not a part of the War On Terror, haven't you heard?

/sarcasm off

Mr. Kazimi, your President or Prime Minister could come to Washington, speak to a joint session of our Congress, and say "Al Qaeda is killing Iraqis every day and if you do not stay to defeat them they will come for you too," and blue-state voters + American media elites would shrug it off, if they even hear it at all. This blog and others like it are extremely useful for those of us who care to actually learn the truth about what is happening over there, and so long as you have this voice then by all means keep speaking and sharing! People can learn more from your posts than from any US media report...

On 2 February, a jihadist website posted a statement issued by The Islamic State of Iraq in which the group claimed responsibility for downing an Apache helicopter in Al-Taji area on Friday morning, 2 February, and promised to release a film of the operation. The statement was attributed to the Ministry of Information, the "official source" of the Islamic State of Iraq.

A translation of the statement follows:

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Praise be to God, Lord of all creation. Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

In the morning of this blessed day of Friday, 15 Muharram 1428, corresponding to 2 February 2007, the Air Defense Brigade of the Islamic State of Iraq in the Al-Taji area, near the petroleum depot (Albu-Assaf areas) was able to down an Apache helicopter, burning it completely, and we shall bring you the film [of the operation], God willing. We say to the enemies of God, 'the skies of the Islamic State of Iraq are as forbidden to you as is its ground.' God Almighty has shown the soldiers of the Islamic State of Iraq new ways to confront your air force. Praise and gratitude be to God. As for the Islamic nation everywhere we say that the winds of victory are blowing in the Land of the Two Rivers. Do not withhold any effort in supporting its children in the Islamic State of Iraq, at least with supplications.

'And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not' [Koranic verse; Joseph 12:21].

Oh God, Revealer of the book, Disperser of the clouds, Defeater of the Confederates, crush the cunning rejectionists, the Zionist Crusaders, and their allies. Oh God, make them and their weapons and war stuff easy prey for Muslims. Oh God destroy them and shake them.

Oh Lord, You are the one who helps us and the one who assists us, with Your Power we move and by Your Power we fight. On You God we rely and You are our cause.

Oh God, retaliate against them, cause them distress, like you did Pharaoh and his nation. Oh God, afflict their country with floods, economic strife, and famine. Oh God, defeat them, destroy them, for You are the All Strong, the Almighty.

God is great. 'Honor belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not' [Koranic verse; The Hypocrites 63:8].

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